Issues

Education: Our schools are the number one reason people choose to live in our community. Christiana is a proud HCPSS graduate and believes our school system must shine brighter as a beacon for Howard County. With two future HCPSS students of her own, she understands and empathizes with the issues parents are facing. Transparent and accountable leadership is needed; as is a positive and inclusive relationship between the county council, the school system, and parents. We must support our teachers and students by continuously fighting for fully funded budgets and initiatives.

Aging in Howard County: Christiana has called for increased investment in our senior community for years through her service on the Kings Contrivance Village Board and as the daughter of two seniors who have lived in Columbia for over 40 years. She will continue her work to advocate for an expansion to the Senior tax credit, Aging-In-Place tax credit, and for programs that support our aging community. She has been, and will continue to be an advocate for a new East Columbia 50+ Center so that seniors can truly thrive in Howard County.

Economic Development: Christiana champions responsible economic development where benefits extend to many, not few. As an advocate for sustainable growth, one of Christiana’s top priorities is making sure that development and redevelopment does not outpace our infrastructure capacity for our schools and communities.

Christiana is passionate about the need to preserve open space, support improved transit, encourage small businesses, and revitalize older neighborhoods and Route 1. We must balance growth without compromising our quality of life – our process must be changed to require broad and inclusive public participation through and open and transparent process.

Community Investment: Howard County must reinvest in our community partners who support our residents. Dozens of our local nonprofit partners support our community through a variety of services from shelter, addiction treatment, counseling, case management and wrap around services to promote self sufficiency all the way to stormwater management projects that help the county meet state and federal requirements. We can help our county fulfill its mission by advocating for critical investments in our community and increased partnerships.

Accessible Housing: To be a truly vibrant community, Howard County must ensure that opportunities are available for seniors, young families and everyone in between. Keeping multi-generational families united creates a better quality of life for all. As we develop and revitalize our older neighborhoods, Christiana will continue her fight for seniors to successfully age-in-place and for increased inclusive housing (especially for people with mobility limitations, such as adults with disabilities and seniors with limited incomes). In order to make Howard County accessible and welcoming for new and returning young families, affordable housing is a critical piece of our future growth.

Environment: As a former employee for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Christiana takes deep pride in our natural resources. She believes it is our responsibility to manage our remaining natural areas with an eye to the future. Christiana is committed to preserving our open spaces, protecting and restoring our rivers and streams, which flow to the Chesapeake Bay. We can support our local environment by changing the role of the environmental assessment in the development process and by reducing our waste as a county (including but not limited to, styrofoam use, plastic bag use, food scraps, and more) .

Safe and Inclusive Neighborhoods: Christiana will support our first responders with smart investments to cultivate and maintain safe and inclusive neighborhoods. As a member of the Economic Resource Allocation Committee for Howard County, she has championed our county for increased state and federal dollars. She will push for community policing models, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and collaborate with the Office of Human Rights to enact results driven policies. It is critical that all of our residents feel secure and welcome in our community.

Gun Control: As the mother of two, Christiana is deeply committed to reducing gun violence in our communities and guarding our schools. She has brought together hundreds of women in Howard County in support of the legislative work of Mom’s Demand Action and Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence to make changes in Maryland. She has called for an end to portables as they reduce the safety of our school children, and an increase in measures that have been proven to prevent school shootings.